Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers, Cahill
Chelsea are looking to Cahill to seal their leaky defence. Picture - Reuters.

Chelsea have agreed a fee with Bolton Wanderers for the purchase of English centre-back Gary Cahill, Bolton boss Owen Coyle confirmed.

The fee is believed to be around the region of £7million and the move will be completed once the transfer window opens in January.

Chelsea have been strongly linked to the 25-year-old, especially after Alex handed in his transfer request and with Cahill partnering Blues' skipper John Terry in the International setup with England, the pairing is expected to flourish immediately.

Cahill will now negotiate personal terms with Chelsea officials.

"There has been a fee agreed between the clubs and we have now given Gary's representatives permission to speak to Chelsea," said Coyle, speaking before Bolton's New Year's Eve home clash with Wolves.

"That is where we are with it. We obviously have a game tomorrow and I have said to Gary that he has to be focused on giving everything for Bolton Wanderers, because he knows Bolton Wanderers has been terrific for him just as much as Gary has been for us.

"That is why they have representatives - to sort that out - and whatever January 1 brings, it will bring."